You’re an expert at what you do, but unless you’re a plumber, chances are you’re not doing your own plumbing. Why take the chance doing your own legal work?
Over 60% of small businesses reported having had to address a legal issue within the past two years. It’s important to remind yourself that it’s not a matter of “if” you will need the services of an attorney but “when.” We think you’re better served when you have a relationship with an attorney before a crisis hits, but we’re also here to jump in if you need immediate support. At Pirtle-Guiney Law we start by learning about your business – not just what your immediate need is, but what your business is like – its operations, culture, challenges, and opportunities. With a holistic approach to problem solving we will help you meet your short-term goals without jeopardizing your long-term vision.
Among the services we offer, Pirtle-Guiney Law supports business owners with the following:
Establishing a business entity (corporation, partnership, LLC, etc.) is a critical first step in establishing your business because it protects you from personal liability by separating your personal interests from your business interests and creating the framework for your business’s future growth. PGL will lead you through the business entity formation process to determine which entity type best meets your needs, complete all state and local registrations, and draft essential contracts so you can hit the ground running and get to work.
Don’t slow down your business dealing with contracts and legal transactions. Over the course of owning and operating your business you’ve likely dealt with, or will deal with, a variety of contracts and transactions – from leases and service contracts to selling your business or acquiring a new one. Some are straightforward, but it’s often helpful, time-saving, and headache-sparing have an attorney on-call to handle these items and ensure your interests, and time, are protected.
Protecting what makes your business unique is a fundamental part of growing your business. Registering a trademark or product ensures that you maintain ownership over every aspect of your business. PGL will assist you with all the steps to register trademarks and copyrights and ensure your business is the one that profits from your hard work and creative ideas or designs.
Are your employees full-time, part-time, or seasonal? Hourly? Salaried? Independent contractors?
Different workforce classifications require you to comply with different employment laws. Additionally, misclassifying workers can result in costly penalties and back wages, and leave a feeling of distrust among your employees. PGL will help you establish policies that treat your workforce equitably while complying with the laws that apply to your industry and the needs of your business.
We create policies tailored to your business’ custom needs. With overlapping laws governing sick time, protected leave, overtime, and a growing list of protected activities, individual policies must be carefully crafted to comply with the law and provide you and your employees clarity on what each other’s rights and responsibilities are. PGL will help you create personalized policies that check all of the necessary boxes, reflect your company’s values and culture, and ensure smooth and efficient operations.
A company handbook sets the tone for what you expect from your employees and what they can expect from you. A well-crafted handbook can also serve as an invaluable resource for your employees when questions about policies and procedure arise, saving your team time by answering the simple questions. It also helps you maintain consistency among your workforce, preventing claims of discrimination or providing a solid defense when problems do arise.
PGL will work with you to create your employee handbook, overhaul an outdated handbook, and provide periodic updates as your company’s needs and local, state and federal laws change.
Your team is more productive when they trust that their employer will resolve conflicts openly and ethically. A recent survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 65% of employees reported that the respectful treatment of all employees at all levels was a very important contributor to their job satisfaction. PGL will ensure you know the laws governing leave, accommodations, and terms for hiring and firing employees. We will support you through the process as you navigate HR issues and ensure you and your employees understand all of your options.
As #metoo and myriad discrimination lawsuits against large corporations have highlighted, employers have a high bar when it comes to creating a safe, comfortable, professional, workplace. But what do you do when one of your employees complains of discrimination or harassment? Having a neutral third-party conduct an independent investigation helps you address the issue quickly and fairly while minimizing your liability. As a former investigator with the Bureau of Labor and Industries, Brandy will conduct a thorough investigation and ensure all parties involved in the investigation are treated fairly throughout. We will present you with our findings and recommendations at the conclusion of the investigation so that you have everything you need to take appropriate action.
You rely on your managers to drive your operations. Did you know you can be held responsible for their mistakes? Many business owners don’t realize that their managers can expose their business to liability through their actions. This is why it is critical that your management staff know their legal responsibilities and your employees’ legal rights. PGL will train managers on current employment law and conduct all-staff trainings on topics ranging from discrimination, accommodations, workplace protections, and diversity and inclusion. Trainings reflect your company’s culture, your industry, current laws, and best practices.
Whether you need assistance identifying and developing new leaders, or navigating a partner/member buyout, PGL will advise your company on the best practices for a smooth transition. This could include drafting agreements for ownership transitions, training staff prior to promotions into leadership, or negotiating joint ownership agreements, among other services. Let us know what you need and we’ll work out a plan, together.
Please contact us to discuss your legal needs and for a flat rate quote (when possible) based on the complexity of the work and expected resolution time. Work can also be billed at an hourly rate.
If you anticipate ongoing or periodical legal needs, our Counsel on Demand program may be right for you.
"[Brandy] defines rockstar lawyer. She provides excellent, timely, accurate advice about all of our small business needs and, more importantly, she proactively looks after my business. She knows it’s much easier to stop a problem from starting than to solve something I’ve already screwed up. I could not endorse her any more whole heartedly, and I think any small business owner will receive the same amazing service and excellent value that we have come to rely on from Brandy."
"I worked with Brandy to set up my business - she helped me form my LLC and get other documentation in order with the state. In addition, she supplied a number of contracts and materials that I could use when working with clients or my own contractors. People who I worked with after Brandy and I were done were impressed by how prepared I was for everything from doing an S-Corp election as an LLC to contract negotiations. I was impressed as well! Growing a business is a series of challenges, and working with Brandy helped me cut right through several of those challenges."
"Ms. Pirtle-Guiney was incredibly helpful in the review of a contract. I came to her with a contract that I had written that needed review to ensure that it would be legally binding and covered the appropriate situations. Ms. Pirtle-Guiney was very helpful, knowledgeable, and prompt."
The information provided on this website is offered for informational purposes only. It is not offered as legal advice and does not constitute legal advice. Use of and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site does not create an attorney-client relationship between Pirtle-Guiney Law, LLC and the user/browser. Our attorney is licensed in the State of Oregon. This website may be considered advertising under the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct. You should not make legal hiring decisions based on brochures, advertising or other promotional materials.
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